Gc .M. L.
973.001
Aalunpe
1998693
REYNOLDS '-ISTOR1CA!.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
G-e^'
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
3 1833 00054 5456
INSTRUCTIONS AND FORMS
TO BE OBSERVED BY
PERSONS APPLYma TO THE PENSION OFFICE
BOUNTY LAND
UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855,
ENTITLED " AN ACT IN ADDITION TO CERTAIN ACTS GRANTING
BOUNTY LAND TO CERTAIN OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS WHO
HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THE MILITARY SERVICE
OF THE UNITED STATES."
WASHINGTON:
P. NICHOLSON, PUBLIC PRINTER
1855.
^8 i^ 28 1 2 1
BOUNTY LAND
UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1855.
1S98693
PENSION OFFICE,
March 5, 1855.
The act entitled "An act in addition to certain acts
granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who
have been engaged in the military service of the United
States," approved March 3, 1855, entitles each of the
surviving persons in the following classes to a certificate
or warrant for such quantity of land as shall make, in the
whole, with what he may have heretofore received, one
hundred and sixty acres, provided he shall have served a
period not less than fourteen days, and shall estabhsh
said service by record evidence, to wit :
1. Commissioned and non-commissioned officers, mu-
sicians, and privates, whether of the regulars, volunteers,
rangers, or militia, who were regularly mustered into the
service of the United States in any of the wars in which
this country has been engaged since 1790.
2. Commissioned and non-commissioned officers, sea-
men, ordinary seamen, marines, clerks, and landsmen in
the navy in any of said wars.
3. Militia, volunteers, and State troops of any State
or Territory called into military service, and regularly
mustered therein, and whose services have been paid by
the United States.
4. Wagonmasters and teamsters who have been em-
ployed, under the direction of competent authority, in
time of war, in the transportation of military stores and
supplies.
5. Officers and soldiers of the revolutionary war.
4
6. Chaplains who served with the army in the several
wars of this country.
7. Flotilla-men who served in the war of 1812.
Each of the surviving persons in the following classes
are entitled to a like certificate for a like quantity of land,
without regard to the length of service, provided he was
regularly mustered into service, and shall establish the
same by record evidence, to wit :
1. Officers and soldiers who have been actually en-
gaged in any battle in any of the wars in which this
country has been engaged.
2. Those volunteers who served at the invasion of
Plattsburg, in September, 1814.
3. The volunteers who served at the battle of King's
Mountain in the revolutionary war.
4. The volunteers who served at the battle of Nicko-
jack against the confederated savages of the South.
5. The volunteers who served at the attack on Lewis-
town, in Delaware, by the British fleet, in the war of
1812.
In addition to these classes, this act also extends to all
Indians who have served the United States in any of
their wars the provisions of this and all the bounty-land
laws heretofore passed, in the same manner, and to the
same extent, as if said Indians had been white men.
Where the service has been rendered by a substitute,
he is the person entitled to the benefit of this act, and
not his employer.
In the event of the death of any person who, if living,
would be entitled to a certificate or warrant as aforesaid,
leaving a widow, or, if no widow, a minor child or chil-
dren, such widow, or, if no widow, such minor child or
children, is entitled to a certificate or warrant for the
same quantity of land such deceased persons would be
entitled to receive under the provisions of said act, if
now living.
A subsequent marriage will not impair the right of any-
such widow to such warrant, if she be a widow at the
time of her apphcation. Persons within the age of
twenty-one years on the 3d day of March, 1855, are
deemed minors within the intent and meaning of said
act.
To obtain the benefits of this act, the claimant must
make a declaration, under oath, substantially according to
the forms hereto annexed. The signature of the appli-
cant must be attested, and his or her personal identity
established by the affidavits of two witnesses, whose
residences must be given, and whose credibility must be
sustained by the certificate of the magistrate before
whom the application is verified. •
No certificate will be deemed sufficient in any case*,
unless the facts are certified to be within the personal
knowledge of the magistrate or other officer who shall
sign the certificate, or the names and places of residence
of the witnesses by whom the facts are established be
given, or their affidavits, properly authenticated, be ap-
pended to the certificate.
The official character and signature of the magistrate
who may administer the oath must lie certified by the
clerk of the proper court of record of his county, under
the seal of the court. Whenever the certificate of the
officer who authenticates the signature of the magistrate
is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains
the signature to be authenticated, the certificate must
be attached to said paper by a piece of tape or ribbon,
the ends of which must pass under the official seal,
so as to prevent any paper from being improperly at-
tached to the certificate.
Applications in behalf of minors should be made in
their names by their guardian or next friend. Where
there are several minors entitled to the same gi-atuity.
one may make the declaration. The warrant will be
issued to all jointly. In addition to proof of service, as
in other cases, the minor must prove the death of his
father, that no widow survives him, and that he and
those he represents are the only minor children of the
deceased.
If a party die before the issue of a warrant to which
he would be entitled, if living, the right to said warrant dies
with him. In such case, the warrant becomes void, and
should be cancelled, and the party next entitled in right
of the service claimed should make an application; and
if there be no such party, the grant lapses under the
limitation of the beneficiaries to the bounty. If the
gilaimant die after the issue of the warrant, the title
thereto vests in his heirs at law in the same manner as
real estate in the place of the domicile of the deceased,
and can only be assigned or located by said heirs.
Applications made by Indians must be authenticated
according to the regulations to be prescribed by the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
L. P. WALDO,
Commissioner of Pensions.
FORM OF A DECLAEATION
To be made by a person who has never before had a land
warrant, or made a declaration therefor.
State of
County of
On this day of , A. D. one thousand
eight hundred and , personally appeared before me,
a justice of the peace, (or other officer authorized to ad-
minister oaths for general purposes,) within and for the
county and State aforesaid, : , aged
years, a resident of , in the State of , who,
being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is
the identical , who was a in the company*
commanded by Captain , in the regiment
of , commanded by , in the war with
Great Britain, declared by the United States on the 18th
day of June, 1812, (or other war embraced in said act, de-
scribing what ivar,) that he enlisted (or volunteered, or was
drafted) at , on or about the day of ,
A. D. , for the term of , and continued in ac-
tual service in said war for the term of fourteen days,
and was honorably discharged at , on the
day of , A. D. .t
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining
the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the
act approved March 3, 1855. He also declares that he
has not received a warrant for bounty land under this or
any other act of Congress, nor made any other applica-
tion therefor.
(Signature of the claimant.)
* If the claimant was a regimental or staff officer, the declaration must be
varied according to the facts of the case.
t If the claimant was discharged in consequence of disahility incurred by
the service, or if he was in captivity with the enemy, he must yary his
declaration so as to set forth the facts of the case.
We, and , residents of , in the
State of , upon our oaths, declare that the fore-
going declaration was signed and acknowledged by
in our presence, and that we believe, from the appear-
ance and statements of the applicant, that he is the iden-
tical person he represents himself to be.
(Signatures of witnesses.)
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to
and subscribed before me on the day and year above
written ; and I •certify that I know the affiants to be
credible persons ; that the* claimant is the person he rep-
resents himself to be, and that I have no interest in this
claim.
J. P.
FORM OF A DECLAEATION
To be made where the party has had a warrant, and desires
another.
State of , ^
County of , )
On this day of , A. D. one thousand eight
hundred and , personally appeared before me,
a justice of the peace, (or other officer authorized to ad-
minister oaths for general purposes,) within and for the
county and State aforesaid, ; , aged
years, a resident of , in the State of , who,
being duly sworn according to law, declares that he i.-i>
the identical , who was a in the company
commanded by Captain , in the
regiment of , commanded by , ii)
the war with Great Britain, declared by the United
States on the 18th day of June, 1812, (or other war, as
the case may be,) for the term of , and con-
tinued in actual service in said war for fourteen da3"S ;
that he has heretofore made application for bounty land
under the act of September 28, 1850, (or other act, as
the case may be,) and received a land warrant, No. ,
for acres, which he has since legally disposed of,
and cannot now return.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining
the additional bounty land to which he may be entitled
under the act approved the 3d day of March, 1855. He
also declares, that he has never applied for nor received,
under this or any other act of Congress, any bounty-land
warrant except the one above mentioned.
(Signature of the claimant.)
We, and , residents of , in the State
of , upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing
'declaration was signed and acknowledged by , in
our presence, and that we believe, from fiie appearance
and statements of the applicant, that he is the idcHtical >^
person he represents himself to be.
( Signatures of witnesses. )
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were svi^orn to
and subscribed before me on the day an*d year above
written ; and I certify that I know the affiants to be
credible persons ; ihat the claimant is the person he rep-
resents himself to be, and that I have no interest in this
claim.
' J.P.
10
FORM OF DECLARATION
To ho made by the widow of a deceased iierson who has not
had a land warrant.
State of
Count 7j of
On this day of , A. D. one thousand eight
hundred and , personally appeared before me, a
justice of the peace, (or other officer authorized to admin-
ister oaths for general purposes,) within and for the county
and State aforesaid, , aged years, a
resident of , in the State of , who, being
duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the
widow of , deceased, who was a
in the company commanded by Captain ,
in the regirnent of , commanded by
, in the war with Great Britain, declared by the
United States on the ISth day of June, 1812, (or other
war, as the case may he;) that her said husband enlisted
(or vohmteered, or was drafted) at , on or about the
day of , A. D. , for the term of ,
and continued jn actual service in said war for the term
of , and was honorably discharged at , on
the day of , A. D. .
She further states that she was married to the said
in on the ' day of ,
A. D. , by one , a , and
that her name before her said marriage was
; that her said husband died at on the
day of , A. D. , and that she is now
a wido'v.*
* This declaration must be accompanied by satisfactory proof of the mar-
riage, of the husband's death, and the present widowhood of the claimant.
If there be a public record of the marriage, a duly certified copy of it
should be forwarded, if possible. If there be none but a privates or family
record, such family record, or a certified copy of the same, should be for-
warded, with the aflidavit of some disinterested persons proving the genuine-
11
She further declares that she has heretofore made
appHcation for bounty land under the act approved
September 28, 1850, (or other act, as the case may be,)
and obtained a land warrant for acres, No. ,
which she has legally disposed of, and it cannot now be
returned.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtain-
ing the bounty land to which she may be entitled under
the "act approved March 3, 1S55."
(Claimant's signature. )
We, and , residents of •
the State of , upon our oaths declare that the fore-
going declaration was signed and acknowledged by
in our presence, and that we believe, from the ap-
pearance and statements of the applicant, that she is
the identical person she represents herself to be.
(Signatures of witnesses.)
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn
to and subscribed before me on the day and year above
written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be
credible persons; that the claimant is the person she
represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in
this claim.
, J. P.
ness of the original and the correctness of the copy. If no public or
private record of the marriage exist, or can be procured, that fact should
be set forth in the declaration ; and in such case, other evidence — such
as the testimony of persons who knew the parties in the lifetime of the
husband, and knew them to cohabit as husband and wife, and to be so
reputed — will be admissible.
S^ In no case, however, will the mere statement of witnesses that the
claimant is the icidow of the deceased be taken as evidence of the marriage ;
but the witnesses must state facts and circumstances from which they
derive their knowledge or opinion that she is the widow of the deceased.
12
FORM OF DECLARATION
To he made hj the widow of a deceased ferson who has had a
land warrant, and desires another.
State of
County of •
On this day of , A. D. one thousand eight
hundred and , personally appeared before me, a
justice of the peace, {or other officer authorized to adminis-
ter oaths for general purposes,) within and for the county
and State aforesaid, , aged years, a
resident of , in the State of , who, being
duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the
widow of , deceased, who was a
in the company commanded by Captain ,
in the regiment of , commanded by
■ , in the war with Great Britain, declared by the
United States on the 18th day of June, 1812, {or other
war, as the case maij he;) that her said husband enlisted
(or volunteered, or was drafted) at , on or about the
day of , A. D. , for the term of ,
and continued in actual service in said war for the term
of" > and was honorably discharged at , on
the day , A. D. .
She further states that she was married to the said
in on the day of ,
A- ^- ' by one -=-, a , and that
her name before her said marriage was ;
that her said husband died at on the day of
, A. D. , and that she is now a widow.*
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtain-
*This declaration must be accompanied by satisfactory proof of the mar-
riage, of the husband's death, and the present widowhood of the claimant.
If there be a public record of the marriage, a duly certified copy of it
should be forwarded, if possible. If there be none but a private or family
record, such family record, or a certified copy of the same, should be for-
13
ing the bounty land to which she may be entitled under
the "act approved March 3, 1855."
(Claimant's signature.)
We, and , residents of , in the State
of , upon our oaths declare that the foregoing
declaration was signed and acknowledged by
in our presence ; and that we believe, from the appear-
ance and statements of the applicant, that she is the
identical person she represents herself to be.
(Signatures of witnesses.)
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to
and subscribed before me on the day and year above
written ; and I certify that I know the affiants to be
credible persons ; that the claimant is the person she rep-
resents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this
claim.
, /. P.
Note. — The preceding forms may be used for applications for minors,
mutatis mutandis.
warded, with the affidavit of some disinterested persons proving the genuine-
ness of the origmal and the correctness of the copy. If no public or
private record of the marriage exist, or can be procured, that fact should
be set forth in the declaration ; and in such case, other evidence — such as
the testimony of persons who knew the parties in the lifetime of the
husband, and knew them to cohabit as husband and wife, and to be so
reputed — will be admissible.
^p' In no case, however, will the mere statement of witnesses that the
claimant is the widoic of the deceased be taken as evidence of the marriage ;
but the witnesses must state the facts and circumstances from which they
derive their knowledge or opinion that she is the widow of the deceased.
AN ACT
In addition to certain acts granting bounty land to certain officers and
soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United
States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives
o the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That each of the surviving commissioned and non-com-
missioned officers, musicians, and privates, whether of
regulars, volunteers, rangers, or militia, who were regu-
larly mustered into the service of the United States, and
every officer, commissioned or non-commissioned, sea-
man, ordinary seaman, marine, clerk, and landsman in
the navy, in any of the wars in which this country has
been engaged since seventeen hundred and ninety, and
each of the survivors of the militia, or volunteers, or
State troops of any State or Territory, called into mili-
tar}^ service, and regularly mustered therein, and whose
services have been paid by the United States, shall be
entided to receive a certificate or warrant from the De-
partment of the Interior for one hundred and sixty acres
of land; and where any of those who have been so
mustered into service and paid shall have received a
certificate or warrant, he shall be entitled to a certificate
or warrant for such quantity of land as will make, in the
whole, with what he may have heretofore received, one
hundred and sixty acres to each such person having
served as aforesaid: Provided, The person so having
been in service shall not receive said land warrant if it
shall appear by the muster rolls of his regiment or corps
that he deserted, or was dishonorably discharged from
service :
Provided, further, That the benefits of this section
shall be held to extend to waoonmasters and teamsters
15
who may have been employed, under the direction of
competent authority, in time of war, in the transportation
of mlhtary stores and supphes. _-S58693
Sec. 2. A?id be it further ejiacted. That, in case of the
death of any person who, if living, would be entitled to
a certificate or warrant, as aforesaid, under this act,
leaving a widow, or, if no widow, a minor child or chil-
dren, such widow, or, if no widow, such minor child or
children, shall be entitled to receive a certificate or war-
rant for the same quantity of land that such deceased per-
son would be entitled to receive under the provisions of
this act, if now living : ^ Provided, That a subsequent mar-
riage shall not impair the right of any such widow to such
warrant, if she be a widow at the time of making her ap-
plication : And provided further, That those shall be con-
sidered minors who are so at the time this act shall take
effect. r
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That in no case shall
any such certificate or warrant be issued for any service
less than fourteen days, except where the person shall
actually have been engaged in battle, and unless the
party claiming such certificate or warrant shall establish
his or her right thereto by recorded evidence of said
service.
Sec. 4. And be itfurther enacted. That said certificates
or warrants may be assigned, transferred, and located by
the warrantees, their assignees, or their heirs-at-law, ac-
cording to the provisions of existing laws regulating the
assignment, transfer, and location of bounty-land war-
rants.
Sec. 5. A)id be it further enacted, That no warrant
issued under the provisions of this act shall be located
on any public lands, except such as shall at the time be
subject to sale at either the minimum or lower graduated
prices.
16
Sec. 6. And he it further enacted, That the registers and
receivers of the several land offices shall be severally-
authorized to charge and receive for their services in
locating all warrants under the provisions of this act the
same compensation or per-centage to which they are en-
titled by law for sales of the public lands, for cash, at
the rate of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre ;
the said compensation to be paid by the assignees or
holders of such warrants.
Sec. 7. And he it further enacted. That the provisions of
this act, and all the bounty-land laws heretofore passed
by Congress, shall be extended to Indians, in the same
manner and to the same extent as if the said Indians had
been white men.
Sec. 8. And he it further enacted, That the officers and
soldiers of the revolutionary^ war, or their widows or
minor children, shall be entitled to the benefits of this act.
Sec. 9. And he it further etiacttd, That the benefits of
this act shall be apphed to and embrace those who served
as volunteers at the invasion of Plattsburg, in September,
eighteen hundred and fourteen ; also at the battle of
King's Mountain, in the revolutionary war, and the battle
of Nickojack against the confederated savages of the
South.
Sec. 10. And he it further enacted, That the provisions
of this act shall apply to the chaplains who served with
the army in the several wars of the country.
Sec. 11. And beit further enacted, That the provisions
of this act be applied to flotilla-men and to those who
served as volunteers at the attack on Lewistown, in Dela-
ware, by the British fleet, in the war of eighteen hundred
and twelve — fifteen.
Approved March 3, 1855.
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